Sainsbury’s to expand online job applications

Sainsbury’s is to extend its online recruitment initiative to all store staff following the system’s success in hiring managers.

The supermarket chain launched a new online recruitment system, based on technology from supplier Changeworknow, in October 2004, initially just for management positions.

But Jane Basley, head of retail resourcing and development at the company, said successful pilots looking at hiring for non-management positions meant the initiative would be rolled out to all UK stores later this year.

The move comes after research showed that most of the 50,000 job applicants Sainsbury’s deals with every year are already internet savvy and would prefer to apply for vacancies online.

To ensure equal opportunities, the supermarket is introducing internet access in stores for those who do not have a computer. In addition, the website has a text-only version for the partially sighted. Sainsbury’s employees will also be on hand to offer advice and help to people with other disabilities as well as those who are not familiar with the internet.

Basley said she expected the system to halve the time it took to fill a vacancy, which currently takes up to 12 weeks.